Electric spark-producing apparatus.



G. W. WAGKER. ELECTRIC SPARK PRODUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1908.

1,083,964, Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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5] mm whom 6: Wan 4 G. W. WAGKER.

ELECTRIC SPARK PRODUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1908.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

15 external source UNITED sTA'ms PATENT OFFICE.

(mo ten w. WACKER, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR lro J. s. nnnrz COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A concronerron or NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

. Application filed August 10,1908. Serial No. 447,772.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. vVeoKER, a citizen of the, United States, residing at New York, county and State ofNew York, haveiinvented certain new and useful Imrovements in Electric Spark-Produc1ng Apparatus, of which the following afull. clear, and exact description.

.My invention relates to electric spark producing apparatus, in which the sparks may be produced by the action of a magn'etopr generator operating as such, or by inductive efl'ectsproduced in the wmdmg of .the armature of the ma neto or generator by an current. My invention is particularly concerned with an apparatus in which the winding of the armature of a magneto of generator may be employed also {as the path of a current from anoutside source, such as a dryor storage battery. The object of my invention is to provlde an improved magneto ignition system in which a battery is employed to cause windings on the armature of the magneto to produce a starting spark independently of the interrupter.

-. While the invention hereinafter described -may be applied to a variety of uses, it is here shown primarily as an ignition apparatus to be used in connectionwith an internal combustion motor.

A particular embodiment of my invention has herein been selected for illustration and I is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which Figure 1 illustrates in section an ordinary high tension magneto. Fig. 2 is a convenjunction with a high tension magneto, the

latter comprises the pole shoes 1, the armature 2 carrying the prlmary winding 3 and the secondary winding 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, one end of the primary winding 3 is grounded at 5 i in the ordinary well known manner, and the opposite extremity thereof is connected through a switch 6 with an insulated contact ,7 of an interrupter, the movable grounded contact of said interrupter being shown at 8. It is to be understood that when the magneto is in normal or usual operation, this interrupter operates in the usual manner. The secondary winding at of the'magneto armature may be led out at 9 to the sparking electrodes of an internal combustion engine through any usual form of distributing apparatus (not shown) in case the apparatus is used with multi-cylinder enginei, otherwise the connection 9 may merely lead to the sparking electrodes 10 of a single cylinder motor as here shown. With the primary circuit above described a condenser 11 is connected across the contacts of the interrupter 78.

In starting in the usual manner from the ordinary magneto alone, it is necessary to turn over the motor by some means, usually by hand, as by cranking. This operation in case of motors of any considerable size, is extremely difficult and dangerous, and also an inconvenient method of starting the engine. In order to avoid this operation, I

employ in combination with the inductive winding of the magneto armature an extra or outside source of current, by which the primary winding of saidarmature may be initially excite and a secondary high tension current t ereby produced in the high tension winding of the armature by the mere operation of -a switch or push button, or device such as that illustrated in Fig. 3. To this end, in the embodiment herein shown, I provide a battery 12, or other outside source of electrical energy, one terminal ofwhich is connected through a brush 13 with a commutating device 14' preferably carried by the armature of the magneto. The segment 15 of said commutating device is permanently connected with the insulated end of the primary winding 3 of the magneto armature, as at 16, by any suitable connection. The opposite terminal of the battery is connected through wire 17 and through the switch 6, wire 18, and a brush 19 with a segment 20 of the commutating device, which segment in turn is permanently grounded through the armature as shown conventionally at 21.

When the primary winding of the magneto armature is "to. be excited from an-ex-- ternal source of electricity, as the battery here shown, it is necessary that said primary circuit, which is normally closed throughthe interrupter, be open. To this end I provide a suitable form of switch 6, which normally maintains the interrupter in circuit through the contact points 22 and 23. When, however,

7 the switch is operated to bring the battery circuit into operation, as through contact points 24 and 25, it at .the same time breaks the connection with the interrupter. It is to be understood that the switch 6 is so constructed as to afford a quick make and break of the battery circuit, and that immediately after such break the interrupter circuit is restored. In order that the battery or batteries may not be exhausted by being accidentally left in circuit the switch 6 is to be so constructed that said connection is immediately broken as soon as the motor and con- Sequently the magneto starts. It is necessary, furthermore, that immediately upon the breaking of the battery circuit, the interrupter circuit be restored, and to this end the switch is so arranged that upon the,

breaking of the battery circuit the connection between the contact points 22 and 23 will be effected. For these purposes have, illustrated in Fig. 3 a form of switch which consists of a box or casing of insulating'tr'n'aterial, in which are arranged the contact points 22, 23, 24 and 25, connected respectively with the binding posts 3, 3 17' and 18, to which the terminals of the main and battery circuits are connected as shown. Also within the box is pivoted at 26 a vibrating arm 27, carrying contact-points 22', 23, 24, 25, to cooperate with the terminals of the main and auxiliary circuits. A spring 28 holds the contact points 22 and 23' normally in contact with the terminals 22 and 23 respectively, thus normally closing the main circuit. In the lower part of the box is pivotally mounted a head or hub 29 having, a square spindle'30 engaged by any suitable form of spring (not shown) to hold the same in adjustable position after the manner of the ordinary turn-button switch, but permitting rotation thereof. Said head may be operated by any suitable form of turn-button as desired. Attached to said head 29 is a series (here four) offlexible arms 31, which, when the head is rotated, engage successively the arm 27 and swing the same to bring the contact points 24. and 25 thereon into engagement with the terminals 24 and 25 respectively ofthe battery circuit. As the arms '31 continue to rotate, they yield and pass ofi' the end of said swinging arm 27 and permit the same to re turn, under the influence of spring 28, to the normal position shown.

mechanism. In such construction any well known form of spark plug or sparking electrodes which are capable of operation di-' rectly by the external source of sparking current may be employed, such, for example, as a magnetic spark plug.

While I have herein described an apparatus which employs a switch, as above described, it is to be understood that it. is within the broad scope of my-invention to dispense with such switch and to effect substantially the functions thereof through other suitable means, and while a particular arrangement and relation of parts is herein described, it is to be understood that the same may be changed in detail within the scope of my.invention.

What I'cla'im is: I

1. An engine starting electric spark producing apparatus comprising an induction coil, means for producing amagnetic field within which said coil may rotate, an external source of current to excite the primary winding of saidinduction coil, and means to produce a spark irrespective of the position of said coil.

2. An engine starting electric spark producing apparatus comprising a generating apparatus including an armature, primary and secondary windings on said armature, an external source of electricity ada ted to be connected with the primary Win ing of said armature and means to produce a spark irrespective of the position of said armature.

3. An engine starting electric spark produci-n it aratus com risin means for roducing tiignagnetic fitid, at? induction toil located in" said magnetic field, one of said parts'bein'g rotatable,- a source of current adapted to be connected with the primary winding of said coil, and means to produce a spark irrespective of the position of said rotating part.

' 4. An engine starting electric spark producing apparatus comprising a generator, an armature therefor, an external source of current, means to connect said external source with the windings of said armature,

an interrupter normally in circuit'with the winding of said armature and means for throwing said external source of current into circuit with said winding and simultaneously cutting out said interrupter. 7

5. An engine starting electric spark producing apparatus comprising a generator,

an armature therefor, an external source of current, means to connect said external source with the windings of said armature, an interrupter normally in circuit with the winding of said armature and means for throwing said external source of current into circuit with said winding and simultaneouslycutting out said interrupter and immediately thereafter cutting out said external source and restoring said interrupter in said circuit.

6. An engine 'starting electric spark pro ducing apparatus comprising an induction coil, mgrns for producing a magnetic field I within which said coil may rotate, anlejxterg nal source of current. to excite the' primary winding of said induction coil, and ineans to produce a spark'at a position of said coil other than its normal sparking position.

7. An engine starting electric spark pro- 'ducing apparatus comprising means for producing a magnetic field, an induction coil mounted in said mag netic field, one'of said parts being' rotatable, a adapted -to be connected with the primary winding" of said-coil, and means-t0 produce a sparkata position other than the ,normal sparking position of. said rotatable part.

8. An -enginestarting electric spark-producing apparatus comprising a magneto having an armature provided With a pri- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. G.

source of current mary windinggjiind a secondary windingyin combination w tl an interrupter controlling the current normally induced in sand pmfor energizing said primary windin when said magneto is at rest, the circuit t rough said prlmaryw ndlng and external source from said external source through said prispa'rlcproducing current in said secondary winding.

GEORGE. W1 WACKER. vvltnessesz RnLPH G; POWELL; CHAS. A. PEARD.

the Commissioner of latentl,

mary winding, an external source of current being independent of said interrupter, and. means for controlling th'e current flowing mary winding so as to cause it to induce a a 

